Champaign, Ill., May 10, 2002 Penn State dropped the opening game of its four-game series at Illinois Friday night by the score of 3-1. Illinois used a three-run seventh, which was keyed by a Luke Simmons two-RBI double, to defeat the Lions and starting hurler Clayton Hamilton (Beaver Falls, Pa.).

Hamilton (2-7), who opened the game by tossing four and a third no-hit innings, was tagged with the loss despite limiting the Illini to three hits over seven innings of work.

The Nittany Lions, trailing 3-1, loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth but came away empty when Wes Reohr (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) was caught off first following a flyout by Chris Wright (State College, Pa.) to complete a game-ending double play.

Penn State (21-24, 10-14 Big Ten) squandered numerous chances to get on the scoreboard as it stranded seven runners on base after the first seven innings of play. The first of those opportunities occurred in the top of the third as Penn State had Mike Milliron (DuBous, Pa.) was gunned down at the plate when he attempted to score on Chris Wright’s (State College, Pa.) one-out single to shallow center field.

In the top of the fifth the Nittany Lions managed to get runners on first and second with no outs after Willie Melendez (Cayey, Purto Rico) reached on an error by Illinois shortstop T.F.Meagher and Milliron followed with a base hit to center. John Ruhf (Bethlehem, Pa.) dropped down a bunt in an attempt to move the runners to second and third but the bunt dribbled directly to Illini hurler Dickinson who gunned down Melendez at third. Penn State had another scoring chance in the frame as it had runners at first and third with two outs but came away empty when Milliron was tossed out at the plate on the backend of a double steal attempt.

Clint Eury (Butler, Pa.) let another opportunity for Penn State slip away in the sixth as he grounded into a double play with one out and runners on first and second.

The Nittany Lions finally got on the board in the top of the seventh when Mike Hurey (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored on the second error of the night by Illinois’ shortstop Meagher. Hurey, who entered the game as a pinch runner for John Richmond (Pittsburgh, Pa.), scored the unearned run from second base after a ground ball hit by Penn State’s Ruhf got past Meagher.

Illinois (28-13, 12-11 Big Ten) responded with three runs in its half of the seventh as it claimed the lead for good at 3-1. Simmons sparked the Illini rally with a two-RBI double down the right-field line. Simmons later scored the Illini’s final tally of the frame when he scampered home on a two-out wild pitch by Hamilton.

Penn State had a chance to tie the game in the seventh as it had runners on first and second with two outs, but a line drive off the bat of Melendez was snared by Illinois third baseman Simmons to secure the Illinois advantage.

Andy Dickinson (10-2) earned the win for Illinois after limiting Penn State to seven hits and one run over eight innings of work. Dave Mazurek allowed two hits in the ninth before notching his seventh save of the season.

Mike DeRenzo (Murrysville, Pa.) led Penn State at the plate in the loss as he finished with a game-high three hits.

The NIttany Lions and Illini will resume their weekend Big Ten Conference series on Saturday, May 11 with a doubleheader beginning at 4:05 p.m. (CT).

--LIONS--